"Promise Yourself" was first written by Christian D. Larson in 1912 and was adopted in a slightly altered form by the Optimist International organization as the “Optimist Creed.”

Christian Larson was an influential New Thought leader and teacher. He was a prolific writer and an influence over the Religious Science leader and founder, Ernest Holmes. In honor of a great mind, here is the original version of “Promise Yourself.”

PROMISE YOURSELF
by Christian D. Larson

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true .
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud work, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Some of the greatest prosperity teachers and writers came from the era of the late 1800’s and the first half of the 1900’s. They all knew the Secret of the ages and that is what you think, you get.

Every person has the opportunity to change what they don't want in their life because each of us have choices. We can choose how we want to react to a situation. We have the choice of changing our attitudes and also our belief systems. Knowledge is a power force and the more knowledge we gain, the greater the choices we have.

Florence Scovel Shinn’s books were written in the 1920's and are just as applicable today as they were when she wrote them. This great lady was born in 1878. Her books as well as Larson's book may be purchased on Amazon.com.